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The number employed by each local authority is a decision for that authority alone. The information you requested on librarians and science technicians is, however provided in the following tables:

Number of library staff (Full time equivalent) by local authority, 2007-2013:

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Number of Technicians (Full time equivalent) by local authority, 2007-2013:

Independence offers the opportunity to bring in this long-term proposal as tax revenues generated by more women returning to the labour market will stay in Scotland. The initial investment in early learning and childcare will be funded from the savings and increased revenues set out in “Scotland’s Future”, including reducing defence and security spending to £2.5 billion per year and ending the married couples tax allowance.

Further detail on the link between increased female labour market participation and increased tax revenues is available in the note on Childcare and Female Labour Market Participation at the link below:

The Scottish Government does not plan to raise any rates of taxation to pay for the expansion of early learning and childcare set out in “Scotland’s Future”.

I refer the member to the answer to question S4W-18713 on 8 January 2013. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

Improving access to high quality early learning and childcare reduces barriers to parents’ participation in the labour market and is considered to be a crucial element of the wider equality and welfare policy package that would improve economic activity, particularly for females.

As an illustration, the Scottish Government has provided estimates of the potential long-run changes in key economic variables, including tax revenues that could result from increasing female labour market participation in Scotland to match some of the best performing countries in The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on this measure. This analysis showed that, for example, matching the female economic activity rate in Sweden could increase tax revenues by around £700 million per annum in the long-term. Further detail on the results of this analysis is available in the note on childcare and female labour market participation at the link below:

As set in “Scotland’s Future”, the Scottish Government has identified £600 million of savings or increases in revenue that would be implemented with independence, including ending the married couples tax allowance, cancelling the Shares for Rights Scheme, streamlining overseas representation, and ending Trident.

The Scottish Government will also undertake a review of the childcare cost structure, based on international examples, to ensure that our future investment in early learning and childcare achieves the best possible outcomes.

The issue of workforce planning for the phased expansion of early learning and childcare set out within “Scotland’s Future” will be considered by the Scottish Government.

As set out in “Scotland’s Future”, in its first budget after independence, the Scottish Government will commit £100 million to extend 600 hours a year of early learning and childcare to nearly half of Scotland’s two year olds.

By the end of the first Parliament, vulnerable two year olds and all three and four year olds will be entitled to 1,140 hours per year of early learning and childcare, with a further investment of £600 million per year.

In the longer term, the aim is to provide 1,140 hours per year of early learning and childcare for all children aged one to starting school.

The Scottish Government regularly discusses childcare, including the issue of costs, with a range of relevant organisations.

The Scottish Government has no plans to make changes to the current staff: child ratios for pre-school.

The proposals set out within “Scotland’s Future” to increase early learning and childcare provision are phased over time, to allow for the building of capacity in the sector, including the recruitment and training of additional staff.